Portable dressing shield



O. WENDEL PORTABLE DRESSING SHIELD Filed 001;. 30, 1929 SHIELD INVENTOR @M/ IM Patented May 5, 1931 PATENT FFIQE OSWALD WENDEL, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY PORTABLE DRESSING SHIELD Application filed October 30, 1929.

My invention more particularly relates to a dressing shield which is adapted to be supported on and enclose the body of a person, and be folded into a compact package when not in use.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention, and in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a dressing shield embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the supporting frame of Fig. 1 in open position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer ring illustrated'in Fig. 2 in partially closed position; Fig. 4 is a side view of the outer ringin its completely folded position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the joint formed at two opposite corners of the'outer ring shown in Fig. 2;.Fig. 6 is a side view taken at right angles to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of the joint of one of the other corners of the outer ring as viewed in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a side view taken at right angles to Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of supporting frame; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the radially extending arms of Fig. 9 in closed or folded position; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side view of one of the radially extending arms which engages a stop secured to the ring; Fig. 12 is a side view taken at right angles to Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View illustrating one form of attachment of the curtain or screen to the rings of Figs. 1 to 8.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, 10 indicates generally a supporting frame whichis adapted to engage and be supported by a portion of the body. The supporting frame comprises an inner ring 11 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is adapted to engage the upper portion of the head of a person and be supported thereby or, if desired, the ring may be made larger to slip over the head and engage the shoulders. The ringlll is preferably formed as a shirr string or small rope, which may be enlarged or reduced in size as desired. It

Serial No. 403,400.

will of course be understood that the ring 11 may be metallic, if desired.

An outer ring indicated generally at 12 is connected to and supported from the inner ring 11 by connecting members 13 which are preferably flexible. The outer ring 12 is preferably polygonal in form and comprises a plurality of sections 14 which are pivoted or hinged together.

Two pairs 14 of the sections 14 are pivoted 7 together, as at 15, on an axis which is located substantially in the plane of the ring, so that I the two halves of the ring on opposite sides of these pivots may be folded together, Fig. 3 indicating the two halves of the ring as par- (55 tially folded together. The ends of each of the sections 14 are preferably bent substanrially into the form of a circle as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 to form a connection for the pivot which passes through the ends of the two adjacent sections. The remaining ends of the sections 14 are pivoted together, as at 16, the axes of these pivotal connections being substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the two associated sections.

A curtain 17 is attached to and suspended from the supporting frame in any desired manner, and is preferably not only attached to the outer ring 12, but is continued to the inner ring as illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the curtain not only encloses the body of the user, but the major portion of the head as well. The curtain 17 is preferably formed of a suitable fabric, and it may be formed of a continuous sheet or of sections that are suitably secured together.

Stops are provided for each of the joints located at the corners or angles of the outer ring. The stops for the joint 15 are illus- 9O tratedin Figs. 5 and 6 at 17, and comprise a plate 18 which is perforated to receive the pivot, as indicated in Fig. 5, and is bent to form a portion 19 at right angles to the plate 18, the portion 19 being formed with lugs 20 having recesses 21 (see Fig. 5) adapted to engage the two associated sections 14 and which prevent the frame from folding up when it is in open position and in use.

The joints 16 are likewise provided with 196 stops 22 as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprising a plate 23 secured in position between the head of the pivot and one of the associated sections 14 (see Fig. 8). The plate 22 is likewise bent at right angles, as at 24., and forms stops for the adjacent sections to limit their movement, as will readily be apparent. To use the device, the inner ring 11 is placed on top of the head, or, if sufliciently large to slip over the head, rests upon the shoulders with the ring 12 in its open position, and suspended from the ring 11. The curtain is then permitted to drop around the body of the user and encloses and forms a screen for the body, and the user may readily change his clothes for a bathing suit or vice versa. The curtain 17 is preferably provided on' its inner sides with pockets 25, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which the clothing of the user may be deposited. Straps 26 are preferably secured to the outer side of t W "tin'as'illustr ted in F 1,93 that when the frame is folded to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the curtain folded. around the frame, the straps may be used to tie the entire equipment into a compact and neat bundle. The curtain is also preferably provided with a handle 2? which is secured to the curtain and by which the equipment may be carried. A separate container for the package is, therefore, unnecessary.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, I have illustrated a modified form of my invention, in which a metallic ring 11:"- is provided and on which a plurality of radially extending arms 28 are pivoted. A stop 29 is provided for each of the arms which permits the movement of the associated arm to a substantially horizontal position, but prevents further movement of the arm. The stop 29 may conveniently be formed of a bar or wire which is bent into the form of two spaced legs 291 and 292 as shown in Fig. 11 between which legs the bent end 281 of the associatedarm is received. Each of the arms 291 and 292 is preferably bent to substantially circular form, as shown in Fig. 12, and the connecting portion 293 between the two legs serves as a stop for the arm.

The stop 29 is secured to the ring 11 preferably by welding as at 30. The curtain is attached to the ends of the arms 28, which arms are preferably contracted at their ends as at 282 and formed with an opening 283 for the reception of a fastening member on the curtain, as will readily be understood.

hen the device shown in Figs. 9 to 12 is to be used, the arms 28 are opened to the position shown in Fig. 9, and the ring 11 placed upon the head or shoulders of the user, depending upon the size of the ring. The curtain is then permitted to drop around the body, forming a screen. To fold the device, the reverse action takes place; that is to say, after removal from the body ofthe user, the arms 28 are folded to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, and the curtain is folded around the ring.

The device embodying my invention provides a simple, compact and inexpensive device which may readily be carried to and from a bathing beach, and permits the user to change to and from a bathing suit, thereby avoiding the expense which is usually necessary in hiring a locker.

It will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the physical embodiment of my invention illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention and without exceeding the scope of my claims.

I claim:

1. In a dressing shield, a first member adapted to engage and be supported by a portion the human body, a second foldable member supported from the first, and a curtain suspended from said second member and adaptedtoenclose the bodyof the user, 7 V V V 2. In a dressing shield, a ring, a foldable frame attached to said ring, and a curtain suspended from and supported by said ring and adapted to enclose the body of the user.

3. In a dressing shield, a first ring, a second foldable ring attached to and suspended from said first ring, and a curtain suspended from said'second ring and adapted to enclose the body of the user.

l. In a dressing shield, a first ring, asecond foldable ring attached to and suspended from said first ring, said second ring being formed of sections pivoted together at their ends whereby the same may be folded, and a curtain suspended from said second ring and adapted to enclose the body of a user.

5. In a dressing shield, a first ring, a second fold-able ring attached to and suspended from said first ring, said second ring being formed of sectionspiroted together at their ends, two pairs of said sections located on respectively opposite sides of the ring being pivoted to swing about an axis located substantially in the plane of the ring, and the remaining ends of the sections being pivoted together to move about axes at substantially right angles to the planes of the respective adjacent sections.

6. In a dressing shield, an inner ring adapted to engage and be supported by a portion of the human body, an outer ring connected to and adapted to be supported by said inner ring by a plurality of suspension members, said outer ring being constructed of sections adapted to be folded together, .and a curtain suspended from said outer ring and adapted to enclose the body of the user.

7 In a dressing shield, an inner ring adapted to engage and be supported by a portion of the human body, an outer ring connected to said inner ring by a plurality of flexible members, said outer ring beinghexagonal in form when in the open position and comprising sixsectional pieces pivoted together at their ends, two pairs of said pieces located respectively on opposite sides of the ring and pivoted on an axis located substantially in the plane of the ring whereby the two halves thereof may be'folded together, the remaining ends of the sections being pivoted together to move about axes substantially perpendicular to the planesof the associated sections whereby, when the two halves of said ring have been folded together, said two pairs of said sections may be folded against the re maining two sections, and a curtain suspended from said outer ring and adapted to enclose the body of the user.

8. In a dressing shield, an inner ring adapted to engage and be supported by a portion of the human body, an outer ring connected to said inner ring by a plurality of flexible members, said outer ring being hexagonal in form when in the opening position and comprising six sectional pieces pivoted together at their ends, two pairs of said pieces located respectively on opposite sides of the ring and pivoted on an axis located substantially in the plane of the ring whereby the two halves thereof may be folded together, the remaining ends of the sections being pivoted together to move about axes substantially perpendicular to the planes of the associated sections whereby, when the two halves of said ring have been folded together, said two pairs of said sections may be folded against the remaining two sections, said curtain extending to and being attached to said inner ring.

OSWALD WENDEL. 

